La Notte
Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni
Written by Michelangelo Antonioni, Ennio Flaiano, and Tonino Guerra
1961/Italy/France
Nepi Film/Sofitedip/Silver Films
Repeat viewing/FilmStruck
One of 1001 Films You Must See Before You Die
[box] Giovanni: I no longer have inspirations, only recollections.[/box]
There is some gold within this sad film about ennui.
The story follows a day in the life of Giovanni (Marcello Mastroiani) and Lidia (Jeanne Moreau), a restless married couple. Â Each is restless in his own way. Â As the film begins, the couple visits a friend who is in the hospital in great pain. Â The prospect of death has brought him some clarity and the three engage in some honest conversation. Â But Lidia can’t take the strain and goes off wandering aimlessly. Â Eventually, the two reunite.
Lidia doesn’t feel like another evening at home. Â Neither does she want to go to a lavish party at the home of the Gherardinis. Â So they go out to a nightclub and watch a mildly pornographic striptease act. Â This wears down Lidia to the point that she is ready for the party. Â At the party, the couple soon separate. Â Temptation awaits each of them. Giovanni’s takes the form of Monica Vitti.
As in the other Antonioni films I have seen, the characters all seem to be searching for some meaning. Â For all we know there is none to be found. Â One has to be in the right mood to watch this stuff. Â Yesterday, I enjoyed the poetry of the visuals but really wasn’t ready for the very bleak story. Â My favorite part of this is actually the brief section where Monica Vitti plays the game with her makeup compact.
Trailer
